The purpose of this research was to investigate the characteristics of the perception of kendo held by elementary school pupils. Responses were received from a total of 1677 pupils. Factor analysis was applied to the 54 X 54 correlation matrix and the factors were rotated with Normal Varimax criterion.
The results of this research may be summarised as follows.
1. As the results of factor analysis in the elementary school pupils, the following four factors were observed;
1) affirmation of the contents and results of kendo training;
2) mental or behavioral evasion from kendo;
3) desire for improvement in training and victory in competition;
4) motivation to continue kendo.
2. Realization of the effects of kendo, personal enjoyment and motivation to continue kendo are factors of the frequency of practice.
3. Positive experiences such as skill acquisition and victory not only increase a pupils' motivation to continue kendo; a lack of these experiences may contribute to quitting kendo altogether.
4. Respondents of the lower level group practicing kendo infrequently feel discouraged about victory and skill acquisition, and are burdened by the fear of striving for higher goals. This group shows a strong desire to evade kendo resulting from discontentment over the restraints of kendo practice.
Instructors must be sensitive to the perspectives of the pupils and spirit of kendo and make efforts to find out effective teaching method to foster the pupils' motivation to continue kendo.
